NBA draft: Huestis goes to Oklahoma City, Powell to Cleveland

Perhaps the game that, more than any other, landed Stanford’s Josh Huestis in the first round of the NBA draft — a major surprise to many analysts — was the Cardinal’s third-round upset of No. 10 Kansas in the NCAA Tournament.

Huestis helped limit Kansas star Andrew Wiggins, the top pick in the draft, to four points on 1-for-6 shooting in 34 minutes. Stanford won 60-57 to reach the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2008.

The 6-foot-7 Huestis, Stanford’s all-time leading shot blocker, was selected by the Oklahoma City Thunder with the 29th overall pick Thursday night. Teammate Dwight Powell was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets in the second round (45th overall) and immediately traded to Cleveland.

So Powell joins Wiggins with the Cavs and becomes their third Canadian player, along with forwards Anthony Bennett and Tristan Thompson. The Cavs have quite the international lineup, which also includes former St. Mary’s star Matthew Dellavedova of Australia, Luol Deng of Sudan, Sergey Karassev of Russia and Anderson Varejao of Brazil.

Huestis, who watched the draft at a sports bar in his hometown of Great Falls, Mont., told KRTV of Great Falls that he had “no idea” the Thunder would take him.

“It was a surprise to me,” he said. “It’s an amazing opportunity. I’m so happy. It’s the best day of my life. It’s always been my dream (to play in the NBA). I spent countless hours in the gym and sacrificed so much to have this opportunity.

“The fact that it’s here and I have the opportunity is indescribable. It’s surreal to me. I’ve been drafted but I haven’t made it by any means. I’ve got so much work I still need to do.”

He is the first Montana native ever to be drafted in the first round and will be the first to play in the NBA since Larry Krystkowiak, now head coach at Utah, retired in 1998.

Here’s how Zach Harper of CBSSports.com analyzed the pick: “Huestis is a defensive specialist who can guard both the small forward and the shooting guard positions. He’s unlikely to play for the Thunder any time soon with Kevin Durant, Andre Roberson and Perry Jones at the small forward position. But if he can develop an outside shot that he didn’t show in college, he can carve out playing time.”

Huestis is the 12th player in school history to be chosen in the first round and first since 2008, when Brook Lopez (No. 10, New Jersey) and Robin Lopez (No. 15, Portland) were selected.

He was a three-time Pac-12 defensive team selection. He received Stanford’s Most Improved Player award for three consecutive seasons.

Powell’s selection marked the first time two Stanford players have been chosen in a draft since the Lopez twins in 2008. The school record holder for games played (136), he averaged 10.8 points and 6.3 rebounds in his four seasons.

A two-time All-Pac-12 First Team honoree, he averaged at least 14.0 points in each of his final two seasons.

Rather than enter the NBA draft last year, he returned to school to earn his degree and fulfill a promise to his mother, Jacqueline, who died of cancer in September 2012.